CVE-2011-2961 in pNetPower
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in AngelServer.exe 6.0.11.3 in Sunway pNetPower allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted UDP packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2961 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw within AngelServer.exe version 6.0.11.3 of Sunway pNetPower network management software. This vulnerability resides in the handling of UDP packet processing within the network infrastructure monitoring system, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this software for network operations. The affected component operates as a server application responsible for managing and monitoring network traffic, making it a prime target for exploitation by malicious actors seeking to disrupt network services or gain unauthorized system access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the AngelServer.exe application when processing incoming UDP packets. Specifically, the application fails to properly bounds-check data received through UDP communications, allowing an attacker to craft malicious packets that exceed the allocated buffer space in memory. This heap-based overflow occurs when the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including function return addresses, control data, or other critical program structures. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, which directly enables both denial of service conditions and potential code execution capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized access. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw without requiring authentication or physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where such services are exposed to external networks. Successful exploitation can result in immediate system crashes leading to denial of service, but more critically, the overflow conditions may allow attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected service. This capability enables attackers to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malicious payloads within the network infrastructure.
Organizations utilizing Sunway pNetPower software must implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying available vendor patches and updates as soon as they become available. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit exposure of the affected service to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous UDP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in network infrastructure software, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate credential use and T1499 for network disruption. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for specific UDP packet signatures associated with this vulnerability, as the attack vector relies on crafted network communications rather than local system access.